Camp Hill Chargers take the league with a 76 point thriller

Camp Hill’s Chargers travelled to Newcastle last Sunday for their final game of the season knowing exactly what they needed to do to clinch National Championship One (North) and to take them within one game of Premiership rugby next season.

Operating well above the equivalent of neighbouring semi-pro men’s sides, Moseley and Birmingham & Solihull, Camp Hill’s women knew that a bonus point win for scoring five tries or more would be sufficient to hold back the surge from Liverpool’s Waterloo; that they scored the necessaries in less than half an hour and twelve in total, put paid to their competitor’s ambition despite the league table ending all tied by close of play….(NB: Camps taking the title on (significant) points difference).

Second row forward Christie Foster opened the scoring after an impatient first few minutes from both sides characterised the early exchanges - finding plenty of room on the blind to gallop to the line Foster would not be yielded and dotted down for the league leaders’ perfect start (0-5).

With tails up Camps pressed on, not to be outdone Foster’s second row partner Olivia Horgan busted through a reluctant defence to notch up the visitors second, allowing Captain, BeccI Lewis to open her 16 point account for the day with a fine conversion from the right hand upright.

Quick fire scores followed for inside centre Jo Hart, No. 8 Sheena Larkin and right wing, Sarah Whittaker, much from fine work up front and a stand out performance from (forwards’) man of the match Lucy Pollard from the open-side flank. With Lewis again at hand to slide over the next two from three, the Chargers were quickly 31 points to nil up and cruising. Pre-half time scores from Jo Kilby, replacing an un-well Kath Hamilton at full-back, and Nancy Stone, following a show of great individual strength, effectively completed the route (0-45).

Novo’s however, not to be outdone, rallied. Positive yards, following their opening salvo, showed promise and poise, and a deserved score eventually came, but their success was not to last as Camps powered through subsequent contact and collisions to notch up second’s from Hart, Kilby and Whittaker, the latters’ double a suitable reward for the little winger’s all-round efforts that day, (0-67).

Bringing up the rear two final scores completed two hat-tricks for Camps’ top two try-scoring backs this season, just shy of 40 tries notched up between them, Hart’s power and balance too destructive, whilst Kilby’s pace was still just enough – guile and smarts from stand-off Stone and scrum-half Rebecca “Pookie” Morgan the foundations with which they were ably assisted.

Special mentions go to:

Antoinette Morgan – this versatile warrior normally seen at the back of the scrum lived it up with aplomb at the coal face, covering tight-head for the absent Laura Murphy.

Sarah Whittaker – capped an impressive all-round performance with a well-deserved and well-finished double to earn her (back) man of the match honours.

Lucy Pollard – was ever the handful, feisty with ball, fierce without it; will be an integral part of our Premiership charge…stop her if you can!

A dominant and most-convincing of displays now sees Camp Hill Ladies face National Championship One South rivals Thurrock on April 22nd at a location still to be confirmed. In a winner takes all match-up be sure to be there to see what we hope will be a little slice of history unveiled for our Haslucks Green outfit.